Micro quota applicable in private medical colleges too: High Court

The high court bench of justice Mahesh Grover set aside the February 6 notification of the Punjab government in which 1% quota each to different categories such as sports, terror-affected families etc was notified to be given in government colleges only. The government quota is to the extent of 50% in private medical and dental colleges in Punjab.

The HC bench observed that such an artificial distinction will be violative of right to equality.(Representative photo)

The Punjab and Haryana high court on Thursday said that micro reservation being given under state quota seats should be offered in both government as well as private medical and dental colleges.

The high court bench of justice Mahesh Grover set aside the February 6 notification of the Punjab government in which 1% quota each to different categories such as sports, terror-affected families etc was notified to be given in government colleges only. The government quota is to the extent of 50% in private medical and dental colleges in Punjab.

The HC bench observed that such an artificial distinction will be violative of right to equality. “There is absolutely no rationale as to why reservation should be restricted only to government institutes, particularly, when the entire process flows from a centralised procedure and is based on government instructions,” the bench presided over by justice Grover and justice Mahabir Singh Sindhu said.

The order came on a batch of petitions, filed through lawyers DS Patwalia and Kannan Malik demanding that varsity be directed to give 1% quota each to sports and wards of terror-affected families in private colleges as well.

The high court, however, did not accept demand of petitioners on giving micro reservation under vacant seats reverted from the all-India quota to state quota every year. The court accepted argument of Baba Farid University of Health Sciences, Faridkot, that reverted seats in the running roster will disturb the seat distribution for all types of reservation for the current year as well as subsequent years. Hence, it be avoided.